Goals from Ben Wright and Craig Lindfield gave Macclesfield a second win in three games on an emotional afternoon at the Moss Rose.

Tributes were made to Keith Alexander before kick-off and the players did him proud to extend their unbeaten run to three matches with a goal in each half against promotion chasing Bury.

The first effort of the game came from the right boot of Colin Daniel who blasted high and wide after cutting in from the left. The former Crewe man was forced off after only ten minutes though after pulling up injured and was replaced by Lindfield.

John Rooney returned to the side for his first start since December and was at the heart of most of Macc's attacking play.His cross from the left was chested down by Ross Draper and Lindfield's first time effort flew just over the top corner on 13 minutes.

Wright's cut back was left by Draper and the energetic Lee Bell ran onto it only to see his shot blocked before the Shakers' Ben Futcher was booked for cynically barging Draper to the floor as he ran past him.

Macc took the lead after 30 minutes when Emile Sinclair broke down the left wing, cut into the box and squared the ball across goal for Wright to slot into the far corner from six yards.

Few chances were created in the period with Macc having more of the ball but a niggly match was constantly interrupted by the whistle of the referee and the physical battle between Wright and centre backs Sodje and Futcher continued all afternoon.

Bury came within inches all levelling just before the break when a Michael Jones free kick curled over the wall and Jon Brain palmed it onto the inside of the post when it looked like he should have been able to hold on.The ball bounced across the face of goal and when David Worrall put it back across Andy Bishop got the ball stuck between his feet with the goal at his mercy, allowing Shaun Brisley to get over and block.

Seconds after the chance Bury top scorer Ryan Lowe must have had words with the referee as he was then called over and shown a red card much to the bemusement of most in the ground.

Early in the second half a low ball into the middle from Jones was only flicked on by Brain and fell to Bishop but again he took too long to shoot and the Macc defence blocked his effort.

On 56 minutes Sinclair beat the offside trap to race onto Rooney's ball down the right channel and cut the ball back to find Wright's run. It wasn't to be a repeat of the opening goal as this time Wayne Brown was able to get down to save his near post effort.

The second goal did come for the home side soon after though when Lee Bell's corner was flapped at by the keeper and when Nat Brown's shot was blocked the ball fell to Lindfield who was able to turn and smash in from close range.

A dangerous run from full-back Tom Newey allowed him to put a cross in and Brown only just managed to stretch enough to prod behind as it looked to fall to Bishop.

Another low cross from Jones caused problems for the Macc backline and was somehow missed by everyone. The ball was then put back into the box from the left and substitute Tom Elliott's header was tipped over the bar by the fingertips of Brain.

Elliott went close with another far post header minutes later before colliding with the post himself and Macc got deeper looking to hold on to their lead although rarely looked too troubled.

The final whistle blew to great applause from the home faithful and a fitting chorus from the Star Lane End to end a moving afternoon. Keith Alexander, your spirit lives on.

Andy Brinkhurst